Newberg Downtown Coalition seeking a place to call its own

Business  After moving out of donated space, NDC working out of temporary locations until permanent space is located

For now, the Newberg Downtown Coalition doesnt have a space downtown.

As of Jan. 15, the 518 E. First St. space was handed over to Willcuts Company Realtors, which will move into the space after a few renovations.

Mike Ragsdale, NDC executive director, said he was unsuccessful in finding a space prior to moving out.

The reason we are relocating is a tenant is taking over the space, Ragsdale said. The landlord donated the space for four years and I always said if you have a paying tenant, (give the space to them).

So while Ragsdale searches for a new donated space downtown, he will work out of his home in Dundee, and anywhere else he can hold meetings.

Its important that the downtown coalition be downtown. I hope to be back soon, he said. For now Im temporarily working out of coffee shops.

He said a conference room at this newspaper has also been offered to him for meetings.

I have a few numbers for property owners to call, Ragsdale said, for spaces above shops that may need some work before he could move the NDC in.

But he said the displacement shouldnt have a huge impact.

As I told the landlord, I dont have a lot of foot traffic, its mostly meetings and I can travel for those, he said.

The NDC needs a space with a conference or meeting room and at least three work spaces; 500 to 800 square feet would suffice, Ragsdale said.

The good thing is theres no space downtown, but the bad thing is theres no space downtown, he said.